Fake Agent Defrauds Ekiti, Ondo, Osun Hajj Travellers

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ekiti State has paraded three suspects over alleged kidnapping, cult membership, dealing in illicit drugs and defrauding prospective Saudi Arabia pilgrims to the tune of N13m.

The Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Ekiti State, Tolu Afolabi, said two of the suspects, identified as 27-year-old Kayode and 38-year-old Samson, were arrested “following discreet investigation about kidnapping, drug peddling, cultism and armed robbery activities along Ikere/ Ise axis of the state.”

Afolabi, in a statement on Thursday, said one other suspect, identified only as Nurudeen, was trailed to Oyo State, where he was arrested by men of the state NSCDC Counter-Terrorism Unit following complaints from the Muslim community about his fraudulent activities and threat to the lives of his victims.

He stated that Nurudeen, a suspected fake travel agent, collected huge sums from the Muslim faithful, who wanted to travel from Ekiti, Ondo and Osun states for Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Afolabi said, “He did not process any document in respect of the Hajj exercise. Instead, he disappeared with the money since 2021. All efforts to trace him proved abortive as he changed his mobile number and his known addresses, making it difficult to locate him.

“The suspect, following his arrest, has confessed to the crime and he is assisting the unit in its investigation. He will be charged to court as soon as possible.”